London (AFP) - Aston Villa's overhauling of their defence after flirting with relegation last season continued on Tuesday with the signing of Spanish defender Jose Angel Crespo from relegated La Liga side Cordoba for a fee reported to be £500,000 ($780,000).

Spanish side Villarreal kicked off the Emirates Cup with a 2-1 win over Bundesliga runners-up Wolfsburg on Saturday. Marcelino Garcia Toral's team made a flying start in the opening match of the four-team pre-season tournament thanks to first-half goals from Mario Gaspar and Matias Nahuel Leiva at…

Australian international goalkeeper Matthew Ryan signed a six year contract with Spanish side Valencia from Belgian outfit Bruges on Tuesday. The 23-year-old -- who played for Australia at last year's World Cup finals -- has been at Bruges since 2013 but Valencia signed him because they believe he…

CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- - Giovani dos Santos is the next star in the LA Galaxy. The 26-year-old dos Santos spent the last two seasons with Spain's Villarreal, scoring 12 goals in 58 La Liga appearances. ''Giovani is a special player,'' said Bruce Arena, the Galaxy's coach and general manager.

New Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez is focussed on improving the Spanish giants' defence during the forthcoming season, while sticking to the club's attacking philosophy. The former Napoli boss, who replaced the sacked Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu in June, wants to build a side that…

They have Mexican nationality and shine for top clubs in Mexico's first division, but goalkeeper William Yarbrough and defender Ventura Alvarado chose their other nation, the United States, for the Gold Cup. While more and more Mexican-Americans are playing Liga MX, with 15 dual nationals in the…

Amadeo Salvo resigned as president of La Liga club Valencia on Wednesday citing personal reasons, although Spanish media said his departure along with four other senior personnel was due to differences with Singaporean owner Peter Lim. Salvo, who has been in the post since June 2013, sitting…

A Spanish judge suspects Osasuna paid at least 900,000 euros ($1,000,000) to fix matches at the end of the 2013-14 La Liga season, a court said Wednesday. Osasuna were battling to avoid relegation from La Liga in 2013/14, although they failed to beat the drop. Around 250,000 euros appear to have…

Eder scored the only goal of the game as Portugal recorded their first win over Italy since 1976 with a 1-0 friendly success in Geneva on Tuesday. Fernando Santos's men were in buoyant mood after last Saturday's 3-2 Euro 2016 qualifying victory in Armenia and they produced a solid display against…

Real Madrid's German international midfielder Sami Khedira signed for defeated Champions League finalists Juventus on Tuesday, the Italian club announced. The Stuttgart-born Khedira had been at Real Madrid since the summer of 2010, and has achieved success in La Liga, the Copa del Rey (twice), the…

Fast-forward 12 months and Enrique has not for the first time in his career followed in Guardiola's footsteps by landing the treble: Saturday's 3-1 defeat of Juventus added the Champions League to La Liga and Copa del Rey triumphs. Enrique succeeded Guardiola as Barca captain in his playing days…

By Karolos Grohmann BERLIN (Reuters) - Barcelona were crowned kings of Europe for the fifth time after beating Juventus 3-1 in a pulsating Champions League final at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, capping their magnificent season with a title treble. The Spaniards lived up to their tag as…

By Iain Rogers BERLIN (Reuters) - Xavi brought his glittering Barcelona career to a fitting and emotional end when he hoisted aloft the European Cup following a 3-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final on Saturday. Considered one of the finest midfielders of all time, Xavi…

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique refused to clarify whether he will continue at the club next season despite leading the Catalan giants to the treble in his first campaign in charge. Goals from Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Neymar sealed a 3-1 win over Juventus in the Champions League final on Saturday…

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic insisted his side will not lose their hunger for more trophies after landing the treble in his first season with the Catalan giants. The Croatian international opened the score after just four minutes of Saturday's 3-1 win over Juventus in the Champions League…

Gerard Pique says Barcelona will have achieved a perfect season if they beat Juventus in Saturday's Champions League final, and thus match the feats of Pep Guardiola's 2009 treble-winning side. Barca's current boss Luis Enrique can finish his first season at the Camp Nou by emulating Guardiola's…

Mid-table finishing Spanish La Liga outfit Elche are to be relegated to the second division for unpaid tax, a Spanish football league judge decided on Friday. "AS of today Elche's debts are still outstanding and no guarantee has been offered," a La Liga statement explained. As a result Basque…

Brazilian star Neymar has insisted he won't be bullied into curbing his repertoire of skills after a host of Athletic Bilbao players reacted angrily to his show-boating towards the end of Barcelona's 3-1 Copa del Rey final win. Neymar flicked the ball over Unai Bustinza with both feet with two…